UPDATE
Jet-ski operators have made 109 claims since the insurance scheme was introduced on November 17 up to February 5, according to figures from the Insurance Commission. The claims involved payouts totalling 422,104.55 baht. Forty-three jet-ski vendors have missed monthly insurance payments and had policies cancelled.
Original Report
PHUKET'S insurance for jet-skis scheme is not working as well as it should, a meeting at Provincial Hall was told yesterday.
Some jet-ski operators are still hiring out vehicles while uninsured. Others are not keeping up to date with their insurance payments, the meeting heard.
Most of the problems are in Patong, according to the President of the Phuket Jet-Ski Assocation, Decha Salea.
The island has 219 registered jet-skis that were all supposed to be insured under a world-first plan introduced last year to obliterate the scamming of tourists.
Operators would claim that pre-existing damage was done by the rider and extort large sums of money, sometimes 30,000 baht or more.
Jet-skis operate at Patong, Bang Tao, Kamala, Karon and Kata, with most by far at Patong.
Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul said it would be up to the directors of each district to organise a committee to make sure that the jet-skis in their districts were fully insured.
Some jet-ski operators are avoiding insurance while others are not keeping up their payments, a meeting at Provincial Hall hears. Efforts will be made to make the scheme effective.
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The reason should be obvious, they are not really in the 'hiring jetski' business, thats a front for the 'intimidating tourists into paying false damages' business. Hence any insurance scheme ultimately undermines their biz plan (unless they can get paid twice).
Of course when the spotlight is on they revert to their cover, and of course they were forced to go along with starting insurances, but its not what they really make the money from.
Posted by LivinLOS on February 26, 2010 08:08